Denise Thomas, case manager at Medical Protection, shares a recent case relating to a disclosure to the DVLA without patient consent.

Dr Hendow works in Hull and is a member of Medical Protection. He was voted ‘GP of the Year’ in the coveted national General Practice Awards for 2018 for his innovative approach to making Hull and its residents healthier, and for establishing a number of clinics at his practice, based in the Bransholme Health Centre.

An obvious question to ask when people are unintentionally but avoidably harmed is: “why did things go wrong?” Professor Paul Bowie, Programme Director (Safety & Improvement) at NHS Education for Scotland, looks at how we can think differently about patient safety.

You may have heard the term ‘portfolio GP’ more frequently over the last few years. In this article, Dr Mahibur Rahman, a portfolio GP and the medical director at Emedica, looks at the benefits of portfolio GP careers, some popular options and how to get started with them.

The focus on patient safety in healthcare is at the forefront of ensuring the provision of high quality healthcare.1 Diane Baylis, clinical risk educator at Medical Protection, tells us more about the concept of ‘never events’ and how they can improve patient safety.

Most practices will engage locum GPs at some point. In this article, Dr Mahibur Rahman, a portfolio GP and the medical director of Emedica, looks at some top tips for practices to consider from the perspective of a locum GP.

To ensure staffing needs are met, whether because of unexpected shortages or due to planned cover, the use of locums is commonplace in many general practices. Our employment law partner, Croner, looks at steps you can take to ensure a positive locum experience.

With flu vaccination season upon us, you may be considering providing vaccinations to your practice staff. Kate Cowan, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, looks at the key indemnity and regulatory issues to consider

Situations where a doctor is both an employer and the treating clinician of a patient are problematic and should be avoided. Sarah Pickering, advisory case manager at Medical Protection, looks at a recent query from the advice line

When patients fail to attend an appointment, it can be hugely frustrating for a number of reasons. It is also very costly, according to recent NHS England data that suggests up to 15 million general practice appointments are being wasted each year – at an estimated cost to the NHS of £216 million.

Medical Protection actively supports public health initiatives involving the vaccination of susceptible groups in the community, including the flu vaccine.